Gas anchor



Aug. 4, 1942.

Filed April s, 1940 /ZVr K. KELLEY GAS ANCHOR Hoe/f /fiLLV INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented ug. 4, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAS ANCHOR Kork Kelley, Wichita Falls, Tex. Application April s, 1940, serial No. 328,561

1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in gas anchors and flowing devices particularly adapted for use in conjunction with the production of oil wells.

One object of this invention is to provide a gas anchor of a single-cycle type which anchor may be used either with or without the usual pump assembly. v

Another object of this invention is to provide a gas anchor or flowing device which device is operated by the weight of the uid column.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for positively prohibiting the entrance of gas into the uid column.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an auxiliary valve within the main valve whereby it is impossible to center the device.

Another object of this invention is to provide valve means within the body of the device to permit the escape of undesirable gases.

A still further object of this invention is to provide means whereby a portion of the device contains fluid ready to be lifted at all times.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a float control so arranged as to be used either with the open side of said float facing upwardly or said open side facing downwardly and still maintaining the same efficiency in operation.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure l is a view partly in elevation and partly in section showing a gas anchor or flow valve constructed in accordance with the present invention and showing the relative parts in their closed positions.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l showing the relative parts of the device in their open positions.

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a View partly in elevation and partly in section of a slightly modified form of this invention and showing the valve members in their intermediate positions.

In the drawing, the numeral It designates the usual standing valve collar disposed on the extreme lower end of the working barrel II. The body I2 of the gas anchor is comprised of an elongated cylindrical housing I3 having perforations I4 provided therein and being closed at both its upper and lower ends by swedged nipples I and I6 respectively. The lower nipple I6 is closed by a plug member l'l whereby a sand trap is formed.

The upper nipple I5 is provided with an ntegral internal bushing It whereby a chamber A is formed within the upper end of the nipple which chamber is closed at its upper end by the standing valve. A check valve Ida is provided in the upper nipple I5 communicating with the chamber A and terminating outside of said chamber within the well casing (not shown). The purpose of this check valve is to provide means for draining the tubing when itis desired to pull the standing valve for any of the various reasons. Thus, the operator is able to pull a dry string. Y

A length of tubing Y i3 is threaded into an opening provided in the bushing I and depends therefrom to receive a collar I9 ongthe lower end thereof. A spider guide 24 is provided whereby the member 30 may be guided in kitsvertical movement as will hereinafter be explained. The collar I9 confines a valve seat 2li interiorly and between said collar and said length of tubing IB. A ball valve ZI is arranged to contact said seat for purposes hereinafter described and to provide for a quick positive action of the ball and seat valve a cross-pin 22 is provided a short distance above the ball whereby the upward travel thereof is limited. Y

A second elongated collar 23 is threadedly secured to the collar I9 and depends therefrom and is provided with spider arms 2li at the extreme lower end thereof. A plurality of slots are provided in the wall of the collar for purposes hereinafter described. A valve head 26 being closed by a spider 2S' at its lower end is slidably confined within the collar 23 and is arranged to engage a seat 2l provided on the under side of the collarl I9.

A Valve stern 28 projects downwardly from the under side of the Valve head 26 and is arranged to be secured in a leak-proof manner` to the closed bottom 29 of a member 39, which functions as a float at such time as the uid is displaced from the inside thereof. The extreme upper end of the valve stem is provided with an integral auX liary valve head 3| which valve head is arranged to engage a Valve seat 32 provided'internally in the top side of thevalve head 26. The under side of the valve head 2t is closed and provided with an axial opening to permit reciprocation of the valve stem 28 therethrough. This valve will be hereinafter referred to as the pilot valve. The purpose of this pilot valve is to provide a means for prohibiting the centering of the device in the event that a perfect vacuum would be formed both above and below the valve head 2B. This pilot valve requires much less pressure to open than does the main valve.

In operation, after the device has been placed within the well in the desired position within the oil-bearing strata the uid level within the well would be well above the ports I4 whereby the fluid may enter the housing I3 and pass downwardly thereof until such time as the housing is lled to the level equal that of the extreme upper end of the member 3B. Continued gravity now of the well fluid will iill the interior of this cup-like member 33 andfinally force the air therein outwardly thereof. At this time the buoyancy of the member 3 is destifoyed to allow the same to travel downwardly due to the gravity through the fluid within the housing I3.

Downward movement of the member 30 will cause the Valve stem 28 and its integral valve head 3| to travel downwardly until suchrtime as this enlarged head strikes the bottom spider 26\l of the main valve head- 28. The combined weight of the valve stem 28 and the member 3i) will force the main valve headl 26 downwardly to break the contact between this valve head and the seat 2I of the collar I9. At this time the usual pumping operation may beA carried out. Attention is called` tothe fact that the ball and seat assembly 2| and 20 respectively serves toact as a second standing valve whereby the column ofv fluid is maintained at all times within the length of tubing I8 between the ball 2| and the regulation standing valve IIJg.

Inthe event that the iiuid level within the Welldrops below theY inlet ports I4, the pump (not shown) will remove the greaterportion` of the fluid within the member 30 tov restore the buoyancyof the same to permit this member to float upwardly in the well fluid within the housing I3. Upward travel of this assembly will restore the* parts to the positions shown in Figure 1 or the closed position.

In the event it is desired to flow a well with an auxiliary pressure this valvewould operate in a like manner.

In- Figure 4 a slightly modiiied form of the invention is shown and all identical parts bear like referencel numerals.

In this form of the invention all parts are identical to those parts hereinbeforedescribed; The difference being in inverting the member 30 whereby the closed portion 29 will be at the top while the open end is at the bottom. This member 30 is secured to the extreme lower end of the valve stem 28 in a manner similar to that form hereinbefore described.- Guide spider arms 35 are provided internally of the housing I3v and are arranged to contact the outer periphery of the reciprocable member 30.

In the operation of this device, said device will be immersed in the well iiuid a predetermined distance depending upon the depth of the bore hole, and the well fluid will enter the housing I3 through the inlet ports I4 in a manner similar to that hereinbefore described. As the weight of the fluid column within the housing I3 raises, this fluid will travel upwardly both in the inverted member 3U and housing member I3. As the weight of the column within the housing` increases the air trapped in the member 3G will be compressed by said column until such time as this air is compressed suiciently to destroy the buoyancy of said member 30. As this occurs, the member through gravity will begin downward travel which, as has been eX- plained, will open the pilot valve 3| and nally the main valve 26.

In the event that the well is pumped down to such a degree that fluid can no longer enter the housing I3, the pump (not shown) will pump the fluid from the upper portion of the housing |-3- to reduce the column of fluid therein as well as the weight of said column. The compressed air within the inverted member 30 will expand as the weight of the column is decreased until such time as the main valve 26 and pilot valve 3| are again closed. The valve will remain closed untilv a sufficient weight of fluid is. again imposed upon the. member 30. In using, an auxiliary pressure medium to, flow the well, the identical operation heretofore described` would again. take place to openrtheA valve and. at such time as this auxiliary pressure is diminished or the well pumped down the valve would closein the hereinbefore described manner.

From the foregoing it maybe seen that a. gas anchor or ow device may be. had which device operates. with, equalV efciency whether` the member 3Gk be open side upv or open side down. Further, the device may be used either with the regular working barrel pump, assembly or use a flow. valve with auxiliary pressure.

Manifestly, thev construction as. shown and. described is capable. of some modication.. and such modication. as may. be construed within the scope and meaning of the appended claimis also consideredV tobe withinA theY spirit and intentv of the invention.

What. is claimed is:

In combination with a string of tubing and a standing` valve in a well, a4 gas anchor in cluding a tubular bodydisposed below thexstanding valverin said tubing string and provided with iiuid inlet. ports spaced below its upperend',w a tubular member concentri'cally disposect in said body, a cylindrical member embracing said tubular member and reciprocable thereon, said-cylindrical member having a closed lower-end to render the same buoyant upon displacement of iiuidtherefrom, theA movement of said cylindrical member being determinedA by influx-of fluid through the ports in said tubular body, means interposed between said cylindrical member and tubular member for maintaining spaced relationship therebetween, avalveH seat in said tubular member, a valve headY cooperating with said Valve seat and itself provided with a valve seat, a valve stem secured to said cylindrical member cooperating with the seat in said Valve head and eiective to maintain a pressure difierential above and below said valve head',. said valve head being displaceable to effect upward passage of well fluid through` said tubular member standing valve and string of tubing when the buoyancy of said cylindrical member is destroyed, and means disposed above said valve headv and seat to support the column of fluid subsequent to its passage-by said first valve.

KORK KE-LLEY. 

